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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics

Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics

Published on: November 27, 2017

Wool Keratin Hydrolysates for Bioactive Additives Preparation.

Carmen Gaidau¹, Maria Stanca^1,2, Mihaela-Doina Niculescu¹

¹Leather Research Department, Research and Development National Institute for Textiles and Leather-Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93, Ion Minulescu Street, 031215 Bucharest, Romania.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|August 27, 2021

Summary

Enzymatic hydrolysis of wool keratin using Esperase and Valkerase enzymes produced bioactive hydrolysates. These keratin derivatives show potential as plant growth stimulants and antimicrobial agents.

Keywords:

bioactive keratin enzymatic hydrolyses keratin hydrolysates organised protein structures

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Agricultural Science
Materials Science

Background:

Keratin, a fibrous structural protein, is abundant in wool but underutilized.
Enzymatic hydrolysis offers a method to break down keratin into bioactive peptides.
Developing novel bioactive additives from keratin can benefit agriculture and plant health.

Purpose of the Study:

To select keratin hydrolysates with bioactive properties through enzymatic hydrolysis of wool.
To evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics, molecular weight, amino acid composition, and antimicrobial activity of keratin hydrolysates.
To assess the plant growth-stimulating potential of selected hydrolysates on maize plants.

Main Methods:

Enzymatic hydrolysis of wool keratin using Protamex, Esperase, and Valkerase.
Physico-chemical analysis (dry substance, nitrogen, keratin, ash, sulphur, cysteine).
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy.
Antimicrobial activity testing against *Fusarium* spp. and bioactivity assessment on maize plants.

Main Results:

Keratin hydrolysates were successfully produced and characterized.
Hydrolysates from Esperase and Valkerase showed significant bioactivity in stimulating maize plant growth (plant length, chlorophyll index).
Specific peptide structures, analyzed by ATR-FTIR, correlated with observed plant growth enhancement.

Conclusions:

Enzymatic hydrolysis is a viable method for producing bioactive keratin hydrolysates.
Esperase and Valkerase enzymes yield keratin hydrolysates with promising plant growth-stimulating properties.
Keratin hydrolysates can be designed as functional additives for agricultural applications, enhancing plant development.